By Benjamin Tegbeh |LPR News, Abidjan
The very first computers and smartphones made in Côte d’Ivoire from the computer assembly and assembly line of VITIB, a free biotechnology zone located in Grand-Bassam, few kilometers from Abidjan has handed over to the Minister of the Digital Economy, Telecommunications and Innovation, Roger Adom at his office in Abidjan-Plateau.
Manufactured in an assembly line managed by the CERCO Ivory Coast Company, the first difference with other smartphones is in terms of cost and accessibility according to Dr. Alain Capo Chichi, CEO of the CERCO group.
According to him, several services have been integrated into the application that will allow the user to perform operations.
Dr. Alain Capo Chichi also stated that using smartphone features are included, voice assistance in African languages (Baoulé, Malinké, Wolof, etc.) perform operations via a voice recognition system, ” the idea is to allow users who do not know how to write, to operate needs and services by voice (Marketplace) or to send a voice note to a third party in a super application (Super App MOOIS), this smartphone contains major innovations, ” he argues.
This assembly line certified at Microsoft and Intel with a capacity of 4,000 units per day, can assemble all types of electronic and computer equipment, among others, LED lamps, laptops, smartphones, cameras, robots or still screens.
The Ivorian Minister of Digital Economy, Telecommunications and Innovation, said he was “happy and proud of this great innovation”. The Ivorian government official describes the newest technology in as a great innovation which is a boost from Ivory Coast and aims to be “a showcase for technological innovation”.
He further added that this demonstrates the government’s desire to make the country a digital hub.
The Managing Director of Vitib, Philippe Pango, for his part maintained that CERCO, which operates the assembly line, has certified its manufacturing processes with Intel and Microsoft, which foretell well for the quality of the materials produced.
He said the product will be affordable prices for the populations.
“All of this falls within the vision of the President of the Republic to provide every citizen with a computer or a smartphone,” he adds.
